No being less powerful than Han Shuo could escape his consciousness, allowing him a complete overview of the situation in Sandro City.
This place was indeed worthy of being the closest city to the Sacred Mountain of the Church of Light. Through his consciousness, Han Shuo discovered that there were an abundance of Church of Light followers carrying divine energy in their bodies, the entire Sandro City was brimming with churches, numerous magical towers had been erected, and holy energy permeated every corner of the city.
Wherever his consciousness passed, every single expert in the vicinity appeared in Han Shuo's perception. He sensed that there was a Light Sacred Magus present in Sandro City. Not only that, but there were all sorts of followers of the Church of Light occupying every nook and cranny of the city, including a staggering number of powerful experts.
As Han Shuo slowly expanded his senses, he felt waves of divine energy crashing in from the Sacred Mountain not far from Sandro City. The divine energy forced people to kneel and bow, bringing a calmness of mind and a serenity that seemed to indicate a willingness to serve.
Even the bloodthirsty Han Shuo felt as if he were surrendering, repenting and being absolved of his crimes under the effect of this holy energy. A wisp of energy that penetrated deep into the soul arrived. This soul-penetrating energy possessed a kind of intense seductive quality, one that could permanently turn people into obedient slaves.
Han Shuo let out a soft moan. Immediately, his consciousness that had been sniffing around Sandro City stopped expanding outwards and retreated instead. He also concealed the presence emanating from his body.
The divine energy transmitted from the top of the Sacred Mountain of the Church of Light may have given certain devotees increased divine energy. For any ordinary human, however, this kind of divine energy carried an intense, seductive power, causing people to throw themselves into the embrace of the Church and offer their firm beliefs to the God of Light.
As the heretic that the Church of Light was so keen to eliminate, Han Shuo no doubt understood what it meant for an ordinary person to be exposed to this kind of divine energy, with its captivating power directed at their souls. Such practices of the Church of Light obviously bore no resemblance to the transparent practices they displayed.
Once his consciousness was withdrawn, the crushing pressure that had enveloped him all along did not disappear. From Tarrag Canyon, the three had travelled through numerous cities. And yet, the six-horned tribal king of the Soul Race had never stopped targeting their souls.
And by now, that suffocating pressure had grown even stronger. Han Shuo could sense that the Soul Race creatures were rapidly approaching.
Ding!
A sharp ringing sounded in his ears. It was an early warning from the magical formation, audible only to Han Shuo.
"Bryan!" barked the old monster Stratholme. Judging by his voice, his body must have recovered sufficiently.
"In a second!" shouted Han Shuo, releasing the magical formations around him. He then opened the door to Stratholme and Tiana outside.
"He's almost here!" There was an undeniable look of distress on the old monster's face. Despite his preparations, when the time came to face this terrifying six-horned tribal king, the old monster could not help but feel pessimistic about his future prospects.
"We must get to the Sacred Mountain of the Church of Light immediately. When he's near, we'll enter the Sacred Mountain and wait for the Six-Horned Tribal King to appear. Only when both sides have fought and are wounded will we have a chance. Tiana remained as graceful and splendid as ever, but the look on her face grew heavy, indicating that she, like Stratholme, was filled with apprehension.
"Very well then. Let's go," Han Shuo replied curtly.
Neither Stratholme nor Tiana said anything more. With Tiana leading the way, the trio quietly left Sandro City.
The Sacred Mountain of the Church of Light was so high that it pierced the blue doom of the clouds. The three arrived at the base of the mountain. As they looked up, the blue dome of the sky seemed to be pierced by the Sacred Mountain. A feeling of peace and serenity rose in their hearts.
"The Sacred Mountain is 9,763 metres high, with the City of Light at the top. Inside, the most powerful experts of the Church of Light protect the place. We can sneak halfway up the mountain. Then, when the Six-Horned Tribal King is almost here, we can make a run for the top of the Sacred Mountain," Tiana explained to Han Shuo and Stratholme as they arrived at the base of the mountain. She seemed very familiar with the Sacred Mountain of the Church of Light.
Han Shuo and the old monster nodded simultaneously and Tiana did not need to explain any further. She continued to lead them to the centre of the Sacred Mountain.
"Follow me. We need to find a place to hide. There are many experts of the Church of Light on the top of the mountain. Two of them are as powerful as we are. One is a Divine Light Magus and the other is a Divine Knight. There's also an ancient saintess. God knows how long she's been around. If our whereabouts are discovered, the Church of Light may terminate us even before the Six-Horned Tribal King arrives!" Tiana explained to Han Shuo and Stratholme as they flew up the Sacred Mountain.
All three of them were beings of demigod strength. Even when they reached nine thousand metres up the Sacred Mountain, the three of them still managed to soar up.
Since arriving at the headquarters of the Church of Light, Han Shuo had reserved his consciousness and observed his surroundings only with his naked eyes. From what he saw, he discovered that starting at the base of the mountain, the structures of the Church of Light covered every surface. Tens of thousands of followers of the Church of Light lived on this lofty, huge mountain.
"This way!" Tiana shouted, leading the way to a steep, jutting cliff in the middle of the Sacred Mountain.
Beyond the cliff was a dark cave. After Tiana led Han Shuo and Stratholme to the edge of the cliff, they went straight into the dark cave.
As soon as he entered the cave, Han Shuo realised that the cave wasn't as dark as it looked from the outside, on the contrary, there were some magic lamps. The cave was extremely spacious, no doubt dug by humans.
"Huh? Elder Sister Tiana, have you been here before?" Stratholme, the old monster, asked in amazement.
"No, but I sensed that this place was uninhabited. Well, we will stay here for now. Um, let me cast some spells and create a boundary to cover our presence!" Tiana replied almost impulsively.
Neither Han Shuo nor Stratholme questioned her further. Standing at the only entrance and exit to the cave, Tiana took out her azure staff and slowly recited magical incantations.
Suddenly, Tiana stopped chanting and flew out of the cave in a flash. Shortly after her exit, she finished the last phrase of her incantation. In an instant, the water element of the highest intensity enveloped the cave's only opening. The energised water element quickly solidified. Before Han Shuo or Stratholme could react, a metre-thick chunk of ice sealed off the exit.
The expressions on Han Shuo's and Stratholme's faces changed. Stratholme was furious and shouted, "Elder Sister Tiana, what is the meaning of this?"
Two divine presences swooped indiscreetly down from the top of the Sacred Mountain. After a few breaths, they arrived beside Tiana, just outside the cave. Separated by crystal clear, solid ice, Han Shuo could see that one of them was dressed as a Light Priest and the other as a Divine Knight. Both of them looked very young.
Descending from the mountaintop at great speed, the duo made no effort to hide the terrifying presence emanating from their bodies. Therefore, Han Shuo was instantly certain that they were the Divine Light Magus and Divine Knight Tiana had mentioned earlier. Both of them were similarly demigod-like beings!
"Tiana, you have done well. You may merge with your Water Origin Crystal at the top of the Sacred Mountain. Our Saintess will protect you from this alien's persecution," said the young-looking divine knight with a tender smile on his face.
"Bergson, this young man Bryan is the great heretic you have all been hunting. Do with him what you will. As for Stratholme, as long as he hands over the Combat Aura Origin Crystal, we will let him go. He has no conflict with your Church of Light!" Tiana felt a little angry in her heart and pleaded for the old monster.
"I'm sorry, I'm not the one to decide on this matter. Let's postpone the discussion until I have reported to the Saintess," the divine knight named Bergson shrugged his shoulders and then smiled and said, "However, if Stratholme is willing to swear allegiance and devotion to the God of Light, then surely that will be no problem!
Suddenly, both Han Shuo and Stratholme sensed a whiff of intense divine energy that had enveloped the entire cave at an unknown time. Add to this the fact that Tiana had frozen their only means of escape, and it seemed as if the situation could not get any worse.
"Elder Sister Tiana, I never expected this from you!" Stratholme, the old monster trapped in the cave, stared blankly at Tiana. His voice, though calm, carried a distinct anger.
"Stratholme, I'm sorry, but Bergson and I are very good friends. As long as you hand over the crystal ball with the combat aura, I will find a way to let you leave this Sacred Mountain alive!" There was not a hint of remorse on Tiana's face, and she remained as graceful and poised as ever.
The terrifying presence approached quickly. Although they were separated by layers of boundaries, Han Shuo and Stratholme could still hear that strange buzzing sound.
At the same time, a beautiful, gentle melody emanated from the top of the Sacred Mountain. A surge of divine energy, only possessed by the gods, instantly fell in front of the cliff.
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